* [[Centralia (Pennsylvania)|Centralia]] - Famous for an underground coal mine fire that, in fifty years, is still burning. The entire town has been abandoned except for a small few who refuse to leave their native town. The area is a dangerous, burning ghost town and the most famous such town in Pennsylvania.

+

* [[Centralia (Pennsylvania)|Centralia]] — Famous for an underground coal mine fire that, fifty years later, is still burning. The entire town has been abandoned except for a small few who refuse to leave their native town. The area is a dangerous, burning ghost town and the most famous such town in Pennsylvania.

−

* [[Girardville]]. This small coal town is famous for not only its most famous resident, John "Black Jack" Kehoe, charasmatic leader in the fight for coal miner's rights, but for its rapidly growing annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The 2008 parade will be held, rain or shine, 12 noon sharp, on Saturday March 29th. Sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Jack Kehoe Division 1, this year's parade honors present and past sports figures.

+

* [[Girardville]]. This small coal town is famous for not only its most famous resident, John "Black Jack" Kehoe, charasmatic leader in the fight for coal miner's rights, but for its rapidly growing annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

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*[[Jim Thorpe]] Lovely town with lots of history... known as the Switzerland of Pennsylvania. Go to the Jim Thorpe (formerly Mauch Chunk) courthouse for some interesting Molly Maguire history.

+

*[[Frackville]]

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*[[Hazleton]]

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*[[Jim Thorpe]] Lovely town with a lot of history. It's known as the Switzerland of Pennsylvania. Go to the Jim Thorpe (formerly Mauch Chunk) courthouse for some interesting Molly Maguire history.

−

*[[Pottsville]] - the county seat of Schuylkill County. This is the home to the Yuengling Brewery. Also, an interesting landmark is a large statue erected of the famous 19th century statesman, Henry Clay.

+

*[[Hazleton]] — Mostly impoverished city since the departure of coal mining that has seen Hispanic immigration.

−

*[[Scranton]]

+

*[[Mahanoy City]]

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*[[Shamokin]]

+

*[[Mount Carmel]] — Home of the Red Tornadoes football team which holds the 4th highest win total in high school football history.

+

*[[Pottsville]] — The county seat of Schuylkill County. This is the home to the Yuengling Brewery. Also, an interesting landmark is a large statue erected of the famous 19th century statesman, Henry Clay.

+

*[[Scranton]] — The largest city by population in the region.

+

*[[Shamokin]] — Home of the annual "Coal Drop" on New Years Eve.

+

*[[Shenandoah]]- Shenandoah has a swimming hole. Most people call it the shen penn. The water is usually freezing but thats nice on a hot day. It gets deep. There is an island out towards the middle. If you go to the bigger part of the shen penn be aware there is a Sucker Pit. The Sucker Pit is created by the old underground mine in shenandoah which keeps the shen penn filled.If shen penn does ever get drained there a chance shenandoah might collapse from the mine being empty.

*[[Shickshinny]]

*[[Shickshinny]]

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*[[Tamaqua]]

*[[Wilkes-Barre]]

*[[Wilkes-Barre]]

==Other destinations==

==Other destinations==

*[[Lehigh Valley]]

*[[Lehigh Valley]]

−

*[[Pocono Mountains]]

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*[[Poconos and Endless Mountains]]

==Understand==

==Understand==

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Regional dialect in the Coal Region is a mixture of upstate New York, New York City, German, and Polish accents due to historical immigration to work in the mines. Local oddities include the use of a "trailing G." For example "coming up" is pronounced "comin gup". People call each other "butt", as in an abbreviated form of "buddy" or "bud". "Ho, butt!" is a common greeting and not to be meant as an insult.

Regional dialect in the Coal Region is a mixture of upstate New York, New York City, German, and Polish accents due to historical immigration to work in the mines. Local oddities include the use of a "trailing G." For example "coming up" is pronounced "comin gup". People call each other "butt", as in an abbreviated form of "buddy" or "bud". "Ho, butt!" is a common greeting and not to be meant as an insult.

−

The above is not true for all of the coal region. For instance, growing up in Schuylkill County, I had never once heard anyone use that greeting (Ho, butt). However, a good resource for some coal region dialect (which is more common to hear from older residents) is found at http://www.coalregion.com/. The region is not only composed of descendants from German and Polish immigrants, but there are also many English, Welsh, Irish, and Eastern Europeans (i.e. Lithuanians, Slovakians, Ukranians).

+

A good resource for some coal region dialect (which is more common to hear from older residents) is found online [http://www.coalregion.com/]. The region is not only composed of descendants from German and Polish immigrants, but there are also many English, Welsh, Irish, and Eastern Europeans (i.e. Lithuanians, Slovakians, Ukranians).

==Get in==

==Get in==

−

The Coal Region is served by Interstates 80 & 81 and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Wilkes-Barre - Scranton International Airport provides air travel.

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The Coal Region is served by Interstates 80 & 81 and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Wilkes-Barre — Scranton International Airport provides air travel.

==Get around==

==Get around==

−

There is little to nothing in regards to public transportation. Bring your car! Some roads tend to be very winding.

+

Bieber Trailways and Greyhound run daily trips from [[Wilkes-Barre]]/[[Scranton]] to [[Hazleton]] and [[Pottsville]]. Martz Trailways has many daily trips between [[Wilkes-Barre]] and [[Scranton]]. Susquehanna Trailways provides daily trips from [[Hazleton]] through [[Ashland (Pennsylvania)|Ashland]]/[[Mount Carmel]]/[[Shamokin]] to [[Sunbury]].

+

+

COLTS Bus serves the Lackawanna County area and parts of Luzerne County. The LCTA serves the Wyoming Valley area. HPT and STS service the [[Hazleton]] and [[Pottsville]] areas, respectively.

*<see name="Knoebel's Amusement Resort" alt="" address="Elysburg, PA" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.knoebels.com/" hours="" price="FREE parking and entrance; pay for rides" lat="" long="">Fun, food, and fantasy -- Knoebel's Amusement Resort! A nice amusement park to take the kids. Along with amusement rides, there is an extensive picnic grove. This place is a local staple and has been owned and operated by the Knoebel's family since 1929.</see>

*<see name="Knoebel's Amusement Resort" alt="" address="Elysburg, PA" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.knoebels.com/" hours="" price="FREE parking and entrance; pay for rides" lat="" long="">Fun, food, and fantasy -- Knoebel's Amusement Resort! A nice amusement park to take the kids. Along with amusement rides, there is an extensive picnic grove. This place is a local staple and has been owned and operated by the Knoebel's family since 1929.</see>

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*<see name="Eckley Miner's Village" alt="" address="Weatherly, PA" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.eckleyminers.org/contact.html" hours="9am-5pm" price="4.00" lat="" long="">Eckley Miners' Village was an original anthracite mining town that is now a museum devoted to the everyday lives of the anthracite miners and their families. It is located nine miles east of Hazleton, Pa., off Route 940. Sean Connery was here to film part of the ''Molly Maguires'' movie.</see>

+

*<see name="Eckley Miner's Village" alt="" address="Weatherly, PA" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.eckleyminers.org/contact.html" hours="9AM-5PM" price="4.00" lat="" long="">Eckley Miners' Village was an original anthracite mining town that is now a museum devoted to the everyday lives of the anthracite miners and their families. It is located nine miles east of Hazleton, Pa., off Route 940. Sean Connery was here to film part of the ''Molly Maguires'' movie.</see>

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*'''Centralia Mine Fire''' in Centralia is famous due to it's long duration (nearly half a century) and persistence.

+

*'''Centralia Mine Fire''' in Centralia is famous due to its long duration (nearly half a century) and persistence.

* '''Pioneer Coal Mine Tunnel''' in Ashland is a very well-maintained museum which includes an actual tour of a coal mine shaft.

* '''Pioneer Coal Mine Tunnel''' in Ashland is a very well-maintained museum which includes an actual tour of a coal mine shaft.

* '''The Yuengling Brewery''' in Pottsville offers free tours with free samples of beer afterwards (birch beer for those under 21). This is America's oldest Brewery.

* '''The Yuengling Brewery''' in Pottsville offers free tours with free samples of beer afterwards (birch beer for those under 21). This is America's oldest Brewery.

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==Do==

==Do==

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*'''Lackawanna County Stadium''' in Moosic is currently home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team.

+

*'''PNC Field''' in Moosic is currently home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team.

*'''The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza''' in Wilkes-Barre is home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, an AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and hosts concerts and entertainment year round.

+

*'''Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs''' in Plains hosts one of the largest casinos in the state and also serves as a daily harness racing track.

*'''The A-Hole''' in Girardville is popular for swimming.

*'''The A-Hole''' in Girardville is popular for swimming.

*'''Shenandoah''' is a popular place to drive your car around in circles, a common coal-region activity known as "cruising".

*'''Shenandoah''' is a popular place to drive your car around in circles, a common coal-region activity known as "cruising".

*'''Drinking''' alcohol is popular in the coal region.

*'''Drinking''' alcohol is popular in the coal region.

*'''Peach Festival''' is held in Shamokin annually in August.

*'''Peach Festival''' is held in Shamokin annually in August.

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*'''The Clover Irish Weekend Festival''' in Heckschersville. Schuylkill County, is an annual celebration of blended Irish and coal cracker culture held the last weekend in July, filled with music, dance, food, genealogy, games, crafts, and more. In its 22nd year, Irish Festival 2009 runs from Friday to Sunday, July 24 - 26.

+

*'''The Clover Irish Weekend Festival''' in Heckschersville. Schuylkill County, is an annual celebration of blended Irish and coal cracker culture held the last weekend in July, filled with music, dance, food, genealogy, games, crafts, and more. In its 22nd year, Irish Festival 2009 runs from Friday to Sunday, July 24–26.

−

*'''The Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade'''is sponsored annually by the Jack Kehoe Division #1 AOH is growing to be one of the largest in PA! Always held the Saturday after St. Patrick's Day, this parade abounds with pipe bands, AOH marching units, floats, and community groups marching along Girardville's historic streets. Visit the Jack Kehoe Division website or the Girardville website http://www.freewebs.com/girardville for details, photos, and more.

+

*'''The Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade''' is sponsored annually by the Jack Kehoe Division #1 AOH is growing to be one of the largest in PA! Always held the Saturday after St. Patrick's Day, this parade abounds with pipe bands, AOH marching units, floats, and community groups marching along Girardville's historic streets. Visit the Jack Kehoe Division website or the Girardville website [http://www.freewebs.com/girardville] for details, photos, and more.

==Eat==

==Eat==

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*<eat name="Mrs. T's Peirogies" alt="" address="Shenandoah" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">No trip to the coal region is complete without peirogies! This tasty Eastern European food (similar to a ravioli only with a potato and cheese filling, typically) can be found in most area restaurants, even local pizza shops. For a real treat, look for block parties and church picnics which might have homemade peirogies.</eat>

+

*<eat name="Mrs. T's Pierogies" alt="" address="Shenandoah" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">No trip to the coal region is complete without pierogies! This tasty Eastern European food (similar to a ravioli only with a potato and cheese filling, typically) can be found in most area restaurants, even local pizza shops. For a real treat, look for block parties and church picnics which might have homemade peirogies.</eat>

−

*<eat name="Heisler's Cloverleaf Dairy" alt="" address="Tamaqua, PA" directions="" phone="" url="http://12.96.228.101/index.html" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">A great place to go for Heisler's homemade ice cream, mini golf, or a driving range. Part of the fun is the drive through farms and the PA countryside.</eat>

+

*<eat name="Jimmy's Hot Dogs" alt="" address="" directions="">

−

* Tony's Lunch in [[Girardville]] is a very famous restaurant which serves "Screamers" and "Growlers", hamburgers and hot dogs (respectively) with its signature hot sauce. Tony's is open from 8:00 PM until the last customer leaves. Has to be experienced to be understood.

+

Try and stop in Jimmy's Hot Dogs in Hazleton. Amazing how a hot dog can taste so much better when Jimmy makes them for you. Located on Broad St.</eat>

−

* Pottsville Pizzeria in [[Pottsville]] is one of the region's best pizza places, served deli-style.

+

*<eat name="Heisler's Cloverleaf Dairy" alt="" address="Tamaqua, PA" directions="" phone="" url="http://12.96.228.101/index.html" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">A great place to go for Heisler's homemade ice cream, mini golf, or a driving range. Part of the fun is the> drive through farms and the PA countryside.</eat>

−

* Senape's Pizza in [[Hazleton]] is a bakery that makes its widely-respected pizza both hot and cold.

+

* <eat name="Tony's Lunch"> in [[Girardville]] is a very famous restaurant which serves "Screamers" and "Growlers", hamburgers and hot dogs (respectively) with its signature hot sauce. Tony's is open from 8:00 PM until the last customer leaves. Has to be experienced to be understood.</eat>

−

* Maurer's Dairy in [[Shamokin]] makes great food and created its own "bittersweet" ice cream, and also makes other varieties of its own homemade ice cream.

+

* <eat name="Pottsville Pizzeria"> in [[Pottsville]] is one of the region's best pizza places, served deli-style.</eat>

−

* Centiole's Pizza, East Main Street, [[Girardville]] has the region's best pizza. No kidding - this pizza is famous. The Centiole's clan only makes so many each night, so get a phone book and call early.

+

* <eat name="Senape's Pizza"> in [[Hazleton]] is a bakery that makes its widely-respected pizza both hot and cold.</eat>

+

* <eat name ="Maurer's Dairy"> in [[Shamokin]] makes great food and created its own "bittersweet" ice cream, and also makes other varieties of its own homemade ice cream.</eat>

+

* <eat name="Pizza Place"> in [[Frackville]] is known around the region as one of the best pizza places, with its signature "sweet sauce" that is often imitated but rarely duplicated. It stands as one of the main reasons chain pizza restaurants do not find success in the area.</eat>

+

* <eat name ="Centiole's Pizza"> East Main Street, [[Girardville]] has the region's best pizza. No kidding — this pizza is famous. The Centiole's clan only makes so many each night, so get a phone book and call early.</eat>

*<eat name="Bressi Family Foods" alt="" address="Kulpmont, PA" directions="" phone="570 373 9433" url="http://www.BressiFoods.com" hours="24/7" price="" lat="" long="">Bressi Family Foods is the very best place to go for ethnic city chicken, sopressata, capicola, torpedo, shooters, salami, chorizo, andouille, and a host of other ethnic coal region foods.</eat>

*<eat name="Bressi Family Foods" alt="" address="Kulpmont, PA" directions="" phone="570 373 9433" url="http://www.BressiFoods.com" hours="24/7" price="" lat="" long="">Bressi Family Foods is the very best place to go for ethnic city chicken, sopressata, capicola, torpedo, shooters, salami, chorizo, andouille, and a host of other ethnic coal region foods.</eat>

==Drink==

==Drink==

−

Try and stop in Jimmy's Hot Dogs in Hazleton. Amazing how a hot dog can taste so much better when Jimmy makes them for you. Located on Broad St.

For the most part, crime is extremely low in the Coal Region. Only Hazleton suffers from major serious and violent crimes.

==Get out==

==Get out==

+

*[[Allentown]] and the [[Lehigh Valley]] have plenty of attractions.

{{isIn|Poconos_and_Endless_Mountains}}

{{isIn|Poconos_and_Endless_Mountains}}

Revision as of 07:24, 26 September 2012

Pennsylvania's Coal Region has a rich heritage of coal mining and is, in fact, home to the largest deposits of anthracite coal in North and South America. Once a region full of mining towns, the area has since become a tourist destination (primarily anchored by Centralia). The Coal Region has strong blue-collar ties and keeps them to this day. Some of the hardest working people in Pennsylvania have come from here and live in this region.

Contents

Cities

Centralia — Famous for an underground coal mine fire that, fifty years later, is still burning. The entire town has been abandoned except for a small few who refuse to leave their native town. The area is a dangerous, burning ghost town and the most famous such town in Pennsylvania.

Girardville. This small coal town is famous for not only its most famous resident, John "Black Jack" Kehoe, charasmatic leader in the fight for coal miner's rights, but for its rapidly growing annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Shenandoah- Shenandoah has a swimming hole. Most people call it the shen penn. The water is usually freezing but thats nice on a hot day. It gets deep. There is an island out towards the middle. If you go to the bigger part of the shen penn be aware there is a Sucker Pit. The Sucker Pit is created by the old underground mine in shenandoah which keeps the shen penn filled.If shen penn does ever get drained there a chance shenandoah might collapse from the mine being empty.

Other destinations

Understand

Pennsylvania's Coal Region is rich in Irish and Polish/Eastern European heritage, as well as the culture of the early mining industry itself. While the industry has long since left the state, the cultural roots are still there. Local dialect hearkens back to the days of the mines and local culture reflects that heritage. A visit to the coal region is an opportunity to look at one of Pennsylvania's oldest and first major industries; mine tours show 200-year-old mines and working conditions that today would never be accepted. The historical sites evoke a time when millions of immigrants were trying to get a foothold in American society. Pennsylvania's coal mines aided in that effort and today teach us of the determination and persistence that is essential in life as a Pennsylvanian and an American.

Talk

Regional dialect in the Coal Region is a mixture of upstate New York, New York City, German, and Polish accents due to historical immigration to work in the mines. Local oddities include the use of a "trailing G." For example "coming up" is pronounced "comin gup". People call each other "butt", as in an abbreviated form of "buddy" or "bud". "Ho, butt!" is a common greeting and not to be meant as an insult.

A good resource for some coal region dialect (which is more common to hear from older residents) is found online [5]. The region is not only composed of descendants from German and Polish immigrants, but there are also many English, Welsh, Irish, and Eastern Europeans (i.e. Lithuanians, Slovakians, Ukranians).

Get in

The Coal Region is served by Interstates 80 & 81 and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Wilkes-Barre — Scranton International Airport provides air travel.

See

Steamtown National Historic Site. in Scranton is a working museum of steam railroading operated by the National Park Service, on the site of the old Lackawanna Railroad yards. A shopping mall and trolley museum are adjacent to the site.

Number 9 Mine and Museum. in Lansford offers a coal mining museum and an underground mine tour.

Knoebel's Amusement Resort, Elysburg, PA, [1]. Fun, food, and fantasy -- Knoebel's Amusement Resort! A nice amusement park to take the kids. Along with amusement rides, there is an extensive picnic grove. This place is a local staple and has been owned and operated by the Knoebel's family since 1929.FREE parking and entrance; pay for rides.

Eckley Miner's Village, Weatherly, PA, [2]. 9AM-5PM. Eckley Miners' Village was an original anthracite mining town that is now a museum devoted to the everyday lives of the anthracite miners and their families. It is located nine miles east of Hazleton, Pa., off Route 940. Sean Connery was here to film part of the Molly Maguires movie.4.00.

Centralia Mine Fire in Centralia is famous due to its long duration (nearly half a century) and persistence.

Pioneer Coal Mine Tunnel in Ashland is a very well-maintained museum which includes an actual tour of a coal mine shaft.

The Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville offers free tours with free samples of beer afterwards (birch beer for those under 21). This is America's oldest Brewery.

The Hometown Farmer's Market in Hometown is open from 8 AM to 8 PM on Wednesday only, offering award-winning food, fresh vegetables, and bootleg t-shirts.

Schuylkill Mall alongside I-81 is one of Pennsylvania's first shopping malls. It is home to a K-Mart, Sears, Bon-Ton, and Chick-fil-A.

White Haven Cemetery in White Haven is one of the oldest United States cemeteries.

Cinemark Movie Theater in Moosic is the Coal Region's largest movie theater.

Do

PNC Field in Moosic is currently home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team.

The Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Moosic hosts major summer concerts.

The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre is home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, an AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and hosts concerts and entertainment year round.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains hosts one of the largest casinos in the state and also serves as a daily harness racing track.

The A-Hole in Girardville is popular for swimming.

Shenandoah is a popular place to drive your car around in circles, a common coal-region activity known as "cruising".

Drinking alcohol is popular in the coal region.

Peach Festival is held in Shamokin annually in August.

The Clover Irish Weekend Festival in Heckschersville. Schuylkill County, is an annual celebration of blended Irish and coal cracker culture held the last weekend in July, filled with music, dance, food, genealogy, games, crafts, and more. In its 22nd year, Irish Festival 2009 runs from Friday to Sunday, July 24–26.

The Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade is sponsored annually by the Jack Kehoe Division #1 AOH is growing to be one of the largest in PA! Always held the Saturday after St. Patrick's Day, this parade abounds with pipe bands, AOH marching units, floats, and community groups marching along Girardville's historic streets. Visit the Jack Kehoe Division website or the Girardville website [6] for details, photos, and more.

Eat

Mrs. T's Pierogies, Shenandoah. No trip to the coal region is complete without pierogies! This tasty Eastern European food (similar to a ravioli only with a potato and cheese filling, typically) can be found in most area restaurants, even local pizza shops. For a real treat, look for block parties and church picnics which might have homemade peirogies.

Jimmy's Hot Dogs. Try and stop in Jimmy's Hot Dogs in Hazleton. Amazing how a hot dog can taste so much better when Jimmy makes them for you. Located on Broad St.

Heisler's Cloverleaf Dairy, Tamaqua, PA, [3]. A great place to go for Heisler's homemade ice cream, mini golf, or a driving range. Part of the fun is the> drive through farms and the PA countryside.

Tony's Lunch. in Girardville is a very famous restaurant which serves "Screamers" and "Growlers", hamburgers and hot dogs (respectively) with its signature hot sauce. Tony's is open from 8:00 PM until the last customer leaves. Has to be experienced to be understood.

Pottsville Pizzeria. in Pottsville is one of the region's best pizza places, served deli-style.

Senape's Pizza. in Hazleton is a bakery that makes its widely-respected pizza both hot and cold.

Maurer's Dairy. in Shamokin makes great food and created its own "bittersweet" ice cream, and also makes other varieties of its own homemade ice cream.

Pizza Place. in Frackville is known around the region as one of the best pizza places, with its signature "sweet sauce" that is often imitated but rarely duplicated. It stands as one of the main reasons chain pizza restaurants do not find success in the area.

Centiole's Pizza. East Main Street, Girardville has the region's best pizza. No kidding — this pizza is famous. The Centiole's clan only makes so many each night, so get a phone book and call early.

Bressi Family Foods, Kulpmont, PA, ☎570 373 9433, [4]. 24/7. Bressi Family Foods is the very best place to go for ethnic city chicken, sopressata, capicola, torpedo, shooters, salami, chorizo, andouille, and a host of other ethnic coal region foods.